Wilhelm Schwar (1860-1943, German)

Wilhelm Friedrich Johann Schwar (1860-1943, German) was born in Munster, Westphalia. In his youth, he discovered his passion for art and painting and soon moved to Munich where he studied at the Künstlerhochburg. He began to exhibit his genre works in 1890. He met the cat artist Julius Adam, as they were neighbors, in the art commune. Perhaps influenced by Adam, he turned his attention to solely portraying animals and in particular cats. Cats had become a popular subject for artists because they sold well and many artists who painted cats at the time were successful, such as Louis Eugène Lambert, Henriette Ronner-Knip, Louis Wain, Thèophile Alexandre Steinlen, Henry Dolph and Carl Kahler.

Schwar’s exacting and realistic style is distinct. His cats, while seemingly relaxed, are highly detailed and remain popular on today’s auction sites.

However, after WWI cat paintings began to become less popular, and Schwar faced financial problems. Wilhelm Schwar died a forgotten artist in 1943 at age 83.

A Tempting Treat, 1909

Cat in a Basket

Child with Pet Cat and Dog 1898

Girl with a Kitten

Dog and Kitten

Good Friends

Grey and White Cat

Grey and White Kitten

Kitten and Bee

Kitten and Bee

Kitten and Butterfly

Kitten with Beetle

Kittens Playing with Paints

Mother Cat and Three Kittens

Our Peter

Three Kittens, 1899

Cat on the Stoop

Mother and Kittens

Black and White Kitten

Cat and Kittens

Cats and Sewing

Four Kittens and a Butterfly

Mother and Two Kittens

Three Kittens

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